While the debate over Ukraine’s NATO membership continues, Zelenskyy has been on a mini tour to drum up support from Bulgaria, Slovakia, Turkey, Spain, Portugal and Romania either with visits from leaders or going to visit the country. Many have called for Ukraine to be given a clear path towards membership, and believe it can create stability.
The IAEA says it has searched the Zaporizhzhia NPP for alleged mines but has not gained access to all areas including the rooftops. One wonders why there is restricted access in this case as what is there to hide?
Journalists were permitted to visit the military camp in Belarus that is alleged to be the new base for the Wagner group. New tents have been erected allegedly for a September military training directive, but no sign of any Wagner troops. Meanwhile, Prigozhin is allegedly in Russia according to Lukashenko.
The big news is that the US is to supply Ukraine with controversial cluster munitions with a range of greater than 1% because they have run out of stock of ammunition to send Ukraine. This is the problem, in that you can keep giving Ukraine weapons to defend themselves but it can never be enough. The UK and Spain have voiced their disapproval of such an action, but in all honesty on NATO membership can save Ukraine, and that cannot happen until after the war has ended. Therefore, it will need NATO troops to assist Ukraine before it can rid the country of the Russian army. That is what everyone is avoiding as it will mean it is officially a world war.
Day 498 (6 July)
Azov soldiers have been tried and convicted in a Donbas (unrecognised court) with sentences of 25 years.
Russian missile attacks continue on residential buildings and railways stations. the Odnorobivka railway station was hit and destroyed. Lviv was also hit and at least 11 people died as a result of a residential building being attacked.
Zelenskyy visited Bulgaria on a. state visit to discuss the peace plan and drum up support for the NATO summit. He then travelled to the Czech Republic to d0 the same.
Lukashenko claims that Prigozhin is not in Belarus but is in St Petersburg although there has been no statement from the man himself. The Russian media has turned on him and the Wagner group, where not so long ago they were praising the Wagner group.
Training for F-16 pilots will begin in August.
The IAEA search the Zaporizhzhia NPP and have so far not found any mines or explosives, but has not been granted access to all areas yet.
Day 499 (7 July)
The US announces another military aid package to include controversial cluster munitions which run the risk of harm to civilians. Other countries have expressed concerns, but this is a last resort as ammunition stocks have been depleted and there isn’t enough to send to Ukraine and Ukraine is running out of ammunition. They point out that the cluster munitions would only be used in Ukraine to defend the land. Cluster munitions cannot be used with a failure rate of higher than 1%, but this has been overruled by Biden and mentions with a failure rate of up to 2.5% will be supplied.
While many countries have banned cluster munitions, the US and Ukraine did not sign the ban, but the US states this is a temporary measure until 155mm artillery is available.
Zelenskyy is in Slovakia to discuss the peace plan and defence issues. He later travels to Turkey to meet with Erdogan.
Slovakia will produce 16 Zuzana 2 self propelled artillery howitzers for Ukraine.
Stoltenberg of NATO states that at the Vilnius summit, there will be a multi-year program of support for the Ukrainian army, and political ties will increase with Ukraine with the NATO-Ukraine council.
Lithuania, Poland and Latvia have put in a formal appeal to NATO, requesting additional measures to counter the potential threats, posed by Russia and Belarus, given that there are claims that the Wagner group will be located in Belarus.
In a joint summit of the EU with countries from Central and South America, a prepared statement removed any mention of Ukraine, and the countries also opposed Zelenskyy being present and taking part in the summit. Hardly neutral and appears to show support for Russia.
Day 500 (8 July)
Zelenskyy visits Snake Island on the 500th day of the war. The island is a symbol of Ukrainian strength and fortitude.
The Azov soldiers that had been released as a prisoner exchange and who had been in Turkey, have finally returned to Ukraine with Zelenskyy. Peskov for Russian claims that Turkey has violated the prisoner exchange agreement by permitting the soldiers to return to Ukraine
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Western companies have bene criticised for not exiting Russia and for making a profit. These included Unilever, IKEA, Mars, Procter & Gamble, Samsung, Kia motors, Philip Morris, Pepsi, British, American tobacco, Danone, and Hyundai.